Statutes funfair will be returning to Ashby on Friday 18 September for the 808th year.

Despite its modern flashing lights, electronic machines and loud music, Ashby Statues has a long local history.

In 1219, Ashby Statutes was officially started by a Charter of Henry III.

Festivals like this were traditionally held at the end of harvest as a hiring fair for domestic servants and farmworkers to be hired for the year.

The fair gradually started to change, transforming fully the end of the 19th century when it was taken over by Pat Collins Funfairs.

When Pat Collins Funfairs took over in 1899, they already had an established business running funfairs in the Black Country.

Pat Collins was the president of the Showman's Guild of Great Britain between 1920 to 1929, before going on to pursue politics, eventually becoming the Mayor of Walsall in 1938, and then the Liberal MP for Walsall in 1922.

Pat Collins Funfairs is still running the event, now owned by Anthony Harris.

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This years' Ashby Statutes will run between Friday 18 September and Tuesday 22 September in Ashby's Market Street, Brook Street and Bath Street.

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READ MORE: Upcoming road closures for the return of Ashby Statutes

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